Liverpool City Council has launched a new campaign urging drivers to make responsible choices and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Data shows more than 1,600 drivers were arrested in Liverpool last year for drink or drug driving, while there were 36 road traffic collisions attributed, at least in part, to drink or drug driving.
The campaign calls on drivers to ‘Avoid the Mourning After’. It aligns with Merseyside Police’s Operation Limit, an enhanced enforcement initiative targeting impaired drivers.
Operation Limit is described as a key component of the 2040 Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries across Merseyside by 2040.
The campaign highlights that driving while impaired carries serious consequences, including imprisonment, heavy fines, and mandatory driving bans. Long-term impacts can include a criminal record, increased insurance costs, and barriers to employment and travel.
Liverpool City Council says it is committed to protecting all road users and preventing the heartbreak caused by impaired driving.
Cllr Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said: “Every collision caused by drink or drug driving is not just a statistic – it’s a shattered life, a grieving family, and a community left to pick up the pieces.
“That is why campaigns like this are so important and can make a real difference. People need to learn that their actions and behaviour can have horrible consequences for other people, not just themselves.
“We must all take responsibility. If you choose to drive impaired, you’re gambling with lives. Let’s make this summer one of safety, not sorrow.”
Stuart McIver, roads policing chief inspector for Merseyside Police, said: “Lighter nights and warmer weather usually mean people enjoying barbecues, beer gardens and festivals, which is lovely. The problem can be around getting home afterwards. If you’ve planned to drink any amount at all, get public transport or a taxi home. Don’t take the risk.
“Aside from the potential driving ban, prison sentence and £5000 fine, the potential human cost if you were to get behind the wheel after a drink is just unthinkable. For the sake of a pint of lager or a glass of wine, you could ruin multiple lives. Including your own.
“The same is true for drug driving. Both non-prescription and some prescription drugs can severely impair your ability to drive safely. Our stance as a force on drug-driving is well known: it will not be tolerated in Merseyside.
“The penalty for drug driving is a potential driving ban, an unlimited fine, and potential custodial sentence. “Plan ahead. Do not drug or drink drive. We will be out patrolling and actively testing. There’s no excuse.”
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